I walked for miles today, following the inner streets, tunnels, and coastline that weave
their way across Rio- a city that nature invades, but where rampant consumerism
and social inequality prevail. Behind and in-front were thousands of youths,
from different parts of the world, although mainly Latin America, on their way
to Copacabana to see the Pope. I struggled. They had a spring in their step. It was a pilgrimage of sorts.
`They’ve been taking cold showers and sleeping rough, but their happiness is undimmed. You can feel Jesus is present, `said an Italian priest.
This long and generous beach and promenade is a venue of choice for mass gatherings from the Rolling Stones to New Year´s Eve, and of course part of the Carnival. This
World Youth Day seemed to have an element of all three-in its youthful energy, celebration, and mass euphoria verging on hysteria whenever Pope Francis came close. Only the hedonism was missing.
Instead there was of course much talk of Jesus and alegria dominated by chants proclaiming ´Here, we are, the youth of the Pope´. On the beach, two Brazilians singers –one with a striking resemblance to George Michael, the other to Barry White- warmed the crowds, telling them to raise their hands to heaven. Even sambas mentioned Jesus today. The Argentine national flag was very much in evidence, but the emblems were diverse. Only one provoked the slightest controversy. ´Follow the Living Jesus, not a world
religion, study the scriptures, `´, it said in bold black letters against a yellow background.
It was held by Sarah, a young blond woman from Michigan who lived in Colombia. A middle-aged Brazilian at the head of his young family shook his head. ´Don´t listen to her,
she is a protestant.´
When the Brazilians had moved on, Sarah told me what she thought of Catholics who, she said, were in a `war´ with Pentecostals. She was not part of either side. She said she disagreed with the way Catholics followed the Virgin Mary and the Pope, instead of Jesus. So who was she, I asked? ` I am a child of God, ‘she replied.
Well, Rio seemed full of young boys and girls and priests and nuns who talked of their encounter with Jesus in mass gatherings like this. To engage with them in any detailed questioning of their beliefs was to encounter a solid wall of certainty on the sanctity of traditional marriage and family life, the authority of the Pope, the call to go out and evangelize.
Not a grain of doubt before a Pope that speaks to them directly, who stirs
their enthusiasm to fever pitch.
´Your youth is showing that your faith is stronger than the cold and the rain, `´ Pope
Francis told them on the beach where over a million stretched out between giant
screens.
It was raining and-for Rio-it was cold. The clouds hovered round the Christ Redeemer statue, clearing occasionally. After a long day, Pope Francis showed remarkable good
cheer and fitness amidst the collective dose of Faith.¨` This week Rio has become
the centre of the Church with its energy and youth. You have answered Jesus´s call to be his friends, his disciples ‘before launching the youths into a chant. “Say with me, a lot of faith, a lot of hope, a lot of happiness…´They did so.
He then continued. ´Put Christ at the centre of your lives and in your hearts…Don´t
think that money is the solution. Don’t get satiated with money. It just makes
you weak…its Faith that gives you security and hope …`Faith is revolutionary.
Ask yourselves, are you ready to enter in this revolution of the Faith? `
It remains to be seen to what extent Francis´s simplicity of gesture and word -the evangelicals and charismatics he appeals to- can prove truly transformative beyond the converted born agains, speaking not just to the faithful but to the doubters and non-believers. Certainly, among the pilgrim young and poor
present in this city this week he has struck a chord they will not easily
forget.
